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           MissCarolinewasnomorethantwenty-one.Shehadbrightauburnhair,pinkcheeks,andworecrimsonfingernailpolish.Shealsoworehigh-heeledpumpsandared-and-white-stripeddress.Shelookedandsmelledlikeapeppermintdrop.SheboardedacrossthestreetonedoordownfromusinMissMaudieAtkinson’supstairsfrontroom,andwhenMissMaudieintroducedustoher,Jemwasinahazefordays.

           MissCarolineprintedhernameontheblackboardandsaid,"ThissaysIamMissCarolineFisher.IamfromNorthAlabama,fromWinstonCounty."Theclassmurmuredapprehensively,shouldsheprovetoharborhershareofthepeculiaritiesindigenoustothatregion.(WhenAlabamasecededfromtheuniononJanuary11,1861,WinstonCountysecededfromAlabama,andeverychildinMaycombCountyknewit.)NorthAlabamawasfullofLiquorInterests,BigMules,steelcompanies,Republicans,professors,andotherpersonsofnobackground.

           MissCarolinebeganthedaybyreadingusastoryaboutcats.Thecatshadlongconversationswithoneanother,theyworecunninglittleclothesandlivedinawarmhousebeneathakitchenstove.BythetimeMrs.Catcalledthedrugstoreforanorderofchocolatemaltedmicetheclasswaswrigglinglikeabucketfulofcatawbaworms.MissCarolineseemedunawarethattheragged,denim-shirtedandfloursack-skirtedfirstgrade,mostofwhomhadchoppedcottonandfedhogsfromthetimetheywereabletowalk,wereimmunetoimaginativeliterature.MissCarolinecametotheendofthestoryandsaid,"Oh,my,wasn’tthatnice?"

           Thenshewenttotheblackboardandprintedthealphabetinenormoussquarecapitals,turnedtotheclassandasked,"Doesanybodyknowwhattheseare?"